Hardy looks to keep MCS winning

Published 6:00 pm, Friday, February 25, 2011

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Hardy looks to keep MCS winning

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Even as Midland Christian welcomes its second new head coach into the softball program after more than 15 years, the Lady Mustangs have established themselves as one of the top programs in the area and in TAPPS.

Now with the reins of the Lady Mustangs being passed to Judy Hardy from Byron Myers, who helped start the program in 1994, comes the tough task for Hardy of transitioning from assistant coach to leader.

Hardy, an Andrews native, was a player herself until an injury while playing for Cameron University in Oklahoma, sent her back home. She finished her last two years at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin as a graduate assistant.

While serving as a grad assistant she became part of the Lady Falcons first trip to a Division II conference tournament, and she is hoping that experience will help her in her new job at Midland Christian.

"I learned a lot in those two years," said Hardy, whose team was competing in the West Texas Classic at the Freddie Ezell Softball Complex this weekend. "It was special to be apart of the program's accompishments."

Hardy is understanding that growing pains will be part of the game, but is nonetheless excited to see where the road leads for Midland Christian in the future.

"We are all making adjustments and everything is coming along smooth." Hardy said. "I feel we have a shot going in to this season."

Hoping to build off the experience she gained at UTPB, Hardy said she believes she can continue the winning tradition that Midland Christian has grown accostumed to for nearly 20 years.

However, filling in for Myers has provided some big shoes to fill as Myers led the the Lady Mustangs to six TAPPS state championships, with the last one coming in 2008.

"It's a big transition from general assistant to head coach," Hardy said. "But I feel really good about the girls, though, and what coach Myers has instilled here in this program."

With five freshmen, Hardy said she expects the seniors to step up in their leadership roles as Stormi Ream, Ashlynn Rotan and Kendra Ballington were all part of the 2008 state title team. All three were freshmen on that team.

"For Midland Christian to continue the respective tradition that they have going, it continues through these ladies," said Hardy, whose younger sister Faith Hart played at Midland Christian. "They know the feeling of winning and what it takes to be positive off the field."

After seeing the enviorment around her at Midland Christian, Hardy said she knows she is at home and hopefully starting a legacy of her own.

Hardy has already started the job with two obstaclese during the early part of this season.

Helping her team to forget about last season's exit out of the playoffs was step one, and Hardy has encouraged her team to use it as motivation for this season and to keep a short memory.

The second obstacle is dealing with an injury to senior Stormi Ream after Thursday's two games at the WestTexas Classic.

"It's a deep bruise to her collar bone," coach Hardy said. "We were in the emergancy room with her till 2 a.m. last night but we're just relieved that nothing is broken."

Team captain Rotan said that it was easy to welcome in Hardy after Myers announced his retirement last spring.

"I think this is a good oppertunity for us to grow as a team with a new coach," Rotan said. "Getting to know (Hardy) has been a fun experience and I have confidence she can get us back to state."